Words by The Urban Journal
As the world begins to re-open – albeit with some restrictions still in place – we pick the best covid-compliant spots to eat out at in April.
Forget the dodgy banana bread, repetitive meals and never-ending takeaway deliveries. From this week onwards, eating out is back – at least, at places with outdoor spaces. But figuring out where you can exchange those long-awaited greetings is no easy task. Luckily for you, we’ve put together a list – with the help of HotSpotsLDN – of some of the best restaurants with outdoor seating.
Only one catch: try and book your spot quickly.
Wingman’s, Soho
A newly-opened shop in Soho, Wingman’s promises to serve the best gourmet chicken around, with the best American sides to go, too. Sadly, given the lockdown restrictions and all, you won’t be able to experience the best of their two-floor shop.
Rest assured, though, that their menu – which (it seems) includes wings with every flavour under the planet– means it’s still one of the best restaurants to visit.
Lobster & Grill, Sutton
High-quality food, good value, nice ambience and great staff. Those aren’t our words, but the words of Lobster & Grill’s loyal customers. Plus, with outdoor seating, there isn’t much to lose here.
The Rooftop, Trafalgar Square
With first-class seats to London’s picture-perfect skyline, it’s easy to understand The Rooftop’s appeal – and from April 12, they plan to open up their doors again. Alongside the bar, there’s hand-crafted food with inspirations from “Japan, Korea and more”: it’s the place to be this summer.
Like all other sought-after spots, though, the early bird gets the worm.
Drums & Flats, Boxpark, Shoreditch
On any given day (restrictions aside), Boxpark is sure to be packed. Finding a good place to grab some food, then, can often prove a challenge. But take it from us – with Drums & Flats, you’ll have very little to do. Good food couldn’t be any more convenient.
Radio Rooftop, The Strand
Like The Rooftop, Radio Rooftop boasts impressive views of London’s skyline, the River Thames and some of the City’s most iconic landmarks. Whether a casual lunch with family or a long-awaited outing with your pals, the setting – and the food – makes it the perfect spot.
In their own words: “from sunrise to sunset, guests can enjoy the changing views of the capital stretching from the Shard and St Paul’s downstream, to the London Eye and Big Ben.” You can’t argue with that, can you?
The Watergate, Deptford
The perfect place to catch up all all the important things, to find out what new things your friends have (or haven’t) taken on during lockdown. The Watergate’s customers swear by their drinks – and their service is as good as it comes.
Ponsbourne Pads, Hertfordshire
At times, it can seem as though the best spots to eat and drink are always lodged in the nation’s capital. Luckily, Ponsbourne Pods bucks the trend. Good food, picture-perfect aesthetics and a relaxing place to enjoy an evening, whatever the weather – nothing more to say, really.
The Nest, Treehouse Hotel
The Nest is another rooftop bar with incredible “360-degree” views of London’s skyline. With a terrace decked with loungers, this is one of the more comfortable high-rise venues out there. If you’re planning on making a gradual return to normal life, there a few better ways to do so than by paying a visit to The Nest.